Good Problem to Have

[yarnivek1972]

I agree with the 2nd paragraph with all of my heart.

 

But don't understand the "horrendous out there". I'm reading post after post of this sentiment.

I’ve never actually seen him play outfield. I’m basing my judgement based on gameday thread posts that there have been misplays, awkward routes and a general “fish out of water” vibe to him.

 

btw, Sano was also 22 when he was tried in RF. It took about half a game to figure out that was going to fail.

[Major League Ready]

 

In consideration of usage. Rosario has only played CF and RF on rare occasion and there is no indication of Rosario playing IF. 

 

Based on that and the fact that he is one of the best hitters in the American League. If Rosario is healthy... He'll play LF at least 62% of the time.    

 

I think Rosario gets a little too much credit here. He is awesome when he is hot but he is goes through periods where he sucks because his plate discipline is atrocious. He is not even among the best hitters on this team based on OPS.  He is 7th on the Twins and just barely cracks the top 100 in the league in  OPS among players with 150+ ABs,  He is ranked at exactly 100 as of today. 

[curt1965]

Has Arrenz hurt the team when he played LF? No. As an infielder, he should be complimented for playing ok when the starters were hurt. This idea of who are you going to play-Rosario or Arrenz-is counterintuitive!

With a healthy OF, the kid will only be there is case of emergencies.

Let’s see what happens. If he keeps hitting and playing good defense, management will figure something out.

The idea that he will be sent down when everyone is healthy is mind-boggling, especially if he continues on this pace!

[old nurse]

 

Weren't you the guy arguing for 13 pitchers and 12 position players?

 

Keep Arraez up her for now, just limit his OF time. ***

 

*** (And for as long as he can keep up his BABIP-tastic numbers. He would lead the league by a mile in BABIP if he qualified.)

 

*** {Also, for as long as he can have the #2 best K% in baseball- second to Astudillo- I have a feeling the "book" is going to be out on how to throw to him sometime soon after the All Star break}

His batting average would also lead everyone by a mile.  His contact and swinging strike percentages  would indicate a better eye for hitting than most.

As far as the book on him soon after the break, what is going to be learned in 10-20 more PA?

[Riverbrian]

 

I’ve never actually seen him play outfield. I’m basing my judgement based on gameday thread posts that there have been misplays, awkward routes and a general “fish out of water” vibe to him.

btw, Sano was also 22 when he was tried in RF. It took about half a game to figure out that was going to fail.

 

I've been watching.

 

I can personally testify under signed affidavit that he has caught everything. His routes have been sufficient enough to get under neath each ball hit his way.

 

In one of his first games in LF... He did make a throw to home that was off line just enough (1st base side) to allow a Tampa Ray runner to score by sneaking his hand in. But, the flyball was medium deep and it was a strong throw to make it close. Being critical of this play would be demanding perfection in his first game in LF. Actually, it would be demanding perfection of someone who has played 500 games in LF.  

 

He threw to third once when there was no chance of getting the runner at third. However... he hit the cut and that cut was lined up for a throw to third and we were able to nail the trailing runner trying to advance to 2nd on the throw because he hit the cut. 

 

He also made a diving catch while playing LF that suggested that he has some athletic ability. 

 

The adjective you used was "Horrendous". You have explained that it was based on the posts of other witnesses.

 

I stand in direct contradiction to those witnesses you have relied upon.  I now can use your strong adjective as an example of the danger of using other people as eyewitnesses instead of seeing it for yourself. It is dangerous because someone might read your description of "horrendous" and assume that you witnessed it.  

[Riverbrian]

 

Has Arrenz hurt the team when he played LF? No. As an infielder, he should be complimented for playing ok when the starters were hurt. This idea of who are you going to play-Rosario or Arrenz-is counterintuitive!
With a healthy OF, the kid will only be there is case of emergencies.
Let’s see what happens. If he keeps hitting and playing good defense, management will figure something out.
The idea that he will be sent down when everyone is healthy is mind-boggling, especially if he continues on this pace!

 

(High Five)

 

Perfectly stated.

 

I'm sitting here reading posts describing him and thinking I'm in the twilight zone. He has done nothing wrong defensively at multiple positions and hit like a seasoned pro.

 

Because there is limited 25 man space, he may get sent down because he has options when others have none but this may actually weaken the overall team based on his performance so far, and this is in comparison with the strong performances of his teammates... He's been that good. 

 

There is no question that he is inexperienced in the OF... In reality... he is 22 and therefore probably inexperienced when it comes to choosing a wine for dinner along almost everything else in life.

 

However, he has the opportunity to become more experienced in the OF with more opportunity to play OF and he has given no indication thus far (it's early yet) that he has hurt the team one inch while playing OF. So why not let him play LF along with 2B, 3B and SS just in case he is needed at any of those positions due to injury or poor play from others. 

 

We don't know what will happen in August. A combination of an OF and Marwin might get hurt and we might need him to play LF in the Playoffs as a result. Exposing him to OF play can serve as insurance or preparation for a future acute potential need that can't be predicted today. 

 

As you state... this isn't a question of choosing Arraez over Rosario... Or Arraez over Schoop... Or Arraez over Sano. It's simply a question of getting a player who is performing at an extremely high level into the lineup whenever and wherever you can, just like what is being currently done with Marwin. 

 

There is this large contingency of observers who feel the need to shove everything into boxes and they seemingly can't alter this baked in need. They've been watching Marwin play all season long, watching Baldelli rest and deploy everyone and still not understand what Marwin is or what Baldelli is doing, Arraez could be another Marwin defensively as long as you don't purposely stick him into a box.

 

And that Box will only do one thing... It will limit your options to his usage and therefore limit his usefulness to us. 

 

[Riverbrian]

I think Rosario gets a little too much credit here. He is awesome when he is hot but he is goes through periods where he sucks because his plate discipline is atrocious. He is not even among the best hitters on this team based on OPS. He is 7th on the Twins and just barely cracks the top 100 in the league in OPS among players with 150+ ABs, He is ranked at exactly 100 as of today.

I won’t argue any of this. My response was under the context that Rosario will have to abandon LF to clear space for Arraez. Rosario is a quality player with potential to be even better.

 

Rosario has earned playing time.

[Dman]

 

I've been watching.

 

I can personally testify under signed affidavit that he has caught everything. His routes have been sufficient enough to get under neath each ball hit his way.

 

In one of his first games in LF... He did make a throw to home that was off line just enough (1st base side) to allow a Tampa Ray runner to score by sneaking his hand in. But, the flyball was medium deep and it was a strong throw to make it close. Being critical of this play would be demanding perfection in his first game in LF. Actually, it would be demanding perfection of someone who has played 500 games in LF.  

 

He threw to third once when there was no chance of getting the runner at third. However... he hit the cut and that cut was lined up for a throw to third and we were able to nail the trailing runner trying to advance to 2nd on the throw because he hit the cut. 

 

He also made a diving catch while playing LF that suggested that he has some athletic ability. 

 

The adjective you used was "Horrendous". You have explained that it was based on the posts of other witnesses.

 

I stand in direct contradiction to those witnesses you have relied upon.  I now can use your strong adjective as an example of the danger of using other people as eyewitnesses instead of seeing it for yourself. It is dangerous because someone might read your description of "horrendous" and assume that you witnessed it.  

 

I haven't seen him play every game in left field but I did see the one you saw where he ran in caught the ball and threw home offline and even though he was running in with momentum there did not seem to be much on the throw.  When he throws from third he doesn't have the zip most third basemen have.  To my eye he doesn't run real fast either.  He barely got to that ball in the Outfield granted he was playing deep but even when he runs the bases he doesn't look very fast to me.  So his arm and run tool seem a little below average to me which makes him a slight liability in left IMO.

 

I will agree with you that horrendous is an over the top description of his ability.  He very well might be OK out in left but you will be giving away some defense when he plays there.  Granted with Buxton next to him he probably doesn't have to do much more than stay in front of the balls that come his way.  From what I have seen I feel a little scared when he is out there but as you stated he has caught everything that has come his way and I haven't seen any egregious errors so maybe he is OK out there but his best position is second base IMO or at least the infield in general.

[Riverbrian]

 

I haven't seen him play every game in left field but I did see the one you saw where he ran in caught the ball and threw home offline and even though he was running in with momentum there did not seem to be much on the throw.  When he throws from third he doesn't have the zip most third basemen have.  To my eye he doesn't run real fast either.  He barely got to that ball in the Outfield granted he was playing deep but even when he runs the bases he doesn't look very fast to me.  So his arm and run tool seem a little below average to me which makes him a slight liability in left IMO.

 

I will agree with you that horrendous is an over the top description of his ability.  He very well might be OK out in left but you will be giving away some defense when he plays there.  Granted with Buxton next to him he probably doesn't have to do much more than stay in front of the balls that come his way.  From what I have seen I feel a little scared when he is out there but as you stated he has caught everything that has come his way and I haven't seen any egregious errors so maybe he is OK out there but his best position is second base IMO or at least the infield in general.

 

 

Here's a link to the game recap (which contains the video of the play). Straight on-line throw with one hop to the plate. Just offline a bit to the 1st base side. 

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/33732-article-tb-5-min-2-twins-can%E2%80%99t-complete-sweep-in-18-inning-duel/

 

I'd call his speed average but how deep of a rabbit hole are we heading down. Yes, Arraez isn't as fast as Rosario. Kepler isn't as fast as Buxton. Arraez is probably faster than Grossman. Rosario doesn't have Arraez or Polanco's plate discipline, Polanco doesn't have Sano's power.

 

Until you find the perfect player, these are things that are always part of the overall product. 

[Al from SoDak]

 

It is fun watching Arraez hit.  Why isn't he leading off ?  then Polanco, Cruz etc etc

 

I'll say it again.  Trade Schoop and install Arraez as our 2b. 

I agree, but does Schoop have any value?

[FlauerPauer]

 

I agree, but does Schoop have any value?

 

Yes. To the Twins. Schoop is a fine player. I'd rather have him as a regular than Arraez. His value comes as Adrianza's league minimum replacement.

[yarnivek1972]

Yes. To the Twins. Schoop is a fine player. I'd rather have him as a regular than Arraez. His value comes as Adrianza's league minimum replacement.

How does replacing Adrianza with Arraez help anything? Adrianza is making pocket change. The 2020 Twins will need to spend substantial resources on pitching. The difference between what Arraez makes and Adrianza won’t move that needle. The difference between Schoop and Arraez does.